hands. The stranger's foot is upon the artistically laid straw wherewith his yard is carpeted. Behold! the visitor is "in search of a horse" let him have in mind the trite, but wholesome, axiom attributed to the donkey, when he danced among the chickens. This consideration, however, does not belong to the design in hand: my purpose is to shew the extent and operation of our horse production at the present day; the position into which the dealer is forced, by the machinery of his commerce, being merely adduced to account for the indifferent goods so constantly seen in his stores. The largest and least objectionable supply of horses to be met with at any one establishment in London, is that assembled at Tattersall's every Monday in the year. The character of the stock exhibited for sale, and the prices which it realizes, afford the best standard whereby to form a just opinion of English stud statistics. From the high consideration in which the head of that firm is held by foreigners, a large share of the racing stocksires and brood mares-exported, is either procured by his agency, or at his suggestion. What extent that exportation averages yearly, I am not able to pronounce; but when the minor foreign agents, such as Kirby of York, and Litchwald, send out of the country from 200 to 300 each, annually, a guess may be made at the scale upon which the gross traffic is conducted. Slight as this sketch is of the business done at one of the principal metropolitan horse marts, coupled with such notices of other leading establishments as I may be able to offer in succeeding numbers, tolerably sound data will be afforded of the present condition of horse production and horse trading in England.

NOTHING could exceed the magnificence of this spectacle, which was performed by young men of noble birth, and took place in the Imperial riding-school. This was a large building, surrounded by a narrow gallery about twelve feet from the ground, communicating with the apartments of the palace, and running behind the handsome Corinthian columns which supported a second gallery above: the whole was most brilliantly illuminated. The accommodations were calculated to hold about a thousand spectators-the seats at one end of the room being set apart for the crowned heads, and at the other for twenty-four ladies, whom we were to consider as the admired

objects which would this evening call forth the exertions of skill and prowess in the aspiring knights. At eight o'clock the heralds sounded their trumpets, announcing the entrance of these fair ladies, who, conducted by the champion knights, took their places of distinction. One would have imagined that all the riches of Vienna had been collected to adorn these queens of beauty. Their dresses, of velvet and gold, were covered with pearls and diamonds. They were divided into four companies, distinguished by the colours they wore of one party, the velvet was black; of another, scarlet; of the third, crimson; and of the fourth, blue: and the mantle of each knight corresponded with the dress of his ladye fair. The knights were in Spanish costume, splendidly adorned with gold and silver. The trumpets now sounded to announce the arrival of the court. On the entrance of the sovereigns, the band struck up the national air, "God save the Emperor," and acclamations rent the roof. The Emperors of Russia and Austria took their places in the centre, at the front, with the Empresses on each side; and then all the other sovereigns, princes, and potentates, in their order of precedency. They were all in their full uniform, and formed as magnificent an assemblage as Europe could produce. The building now resounded with martial airs, and the twenty-four knights entered the arena, mounted on their gallant steeds, whose natural colours were scarcely to be traced through their gold embroidery and trappings. The knights, attended by their esquires in more simple Spanish dresses, all mounted on jet black horses, approached the sovereigns in a body, and saluted with their lances. Then, wheeling round with rapidity, they advanced, and paid the same mark of respect to their ladies, who, standing up, graciously returned their salutation. The knights then, skilfully manoeuvring their well-trained horses, retired from the arena; but, four of them quickly returned, for the purpose of performing the various feats of skill appointed for the amusement of the evening. For this service, figures were placed, bearing the grim heads of Turks and Moors. Towards these, each knight was to advance, and, passing at full speed, strike off in succession all the heads with his sword; then, in like manner, to raise them from the ground with his weapon; and so, in various ways, give proof of prowess in the exercises of combat. All the knights then entered in parties of four, and went through their evolutions; the military bands playing appropriate airs or martial flourishes.

A considerable time having been occupied by these amusements, the scene again changed, and the whole company of knights and squires appeared together, and went through various and rapid movements, skilfully managing their horses, while at full speed, in all the crossings, turnings, and windings of an English country dance, and the more graceful motions of a French quadrille. Other trials of skill succeeded, in which they passed their lances, at full speed, through rings, or disengaged small objects suspended at a height above them. The exercises being ended, the knights again saluted the court, and their "ladyes;" and, encouraged by their smiles and applauses, soon reappeared, to lead them in triumph to the ball, prepared in the grand saloon of the Redoute. The whole amply realized every anticipation of an imperial entertainment: whatever was august in sovereignty, warlike in the field, great in the senate, assisted as spectators of the

carrousel, and not a knight entered the lists in whose veins the noblest blood did not flow. It called to mind the days of ancient chivalry, when these military sports formed so large a part of the amusements of the European courts.

VISIT TO URMENY, IN HUNGARY, 1814.

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After a most interesting journey through Presburg, declared by Ferdinand, in 1536, the capital of Hungary-the place where the kings were crowned, and the diets were held-Cseklesy, the residence of Graf Esterhazy-Sarfö-Tyrnau-Freystadt-Neutra, we reached Urmeny, the seat of Graf Hunyadi. It is most beautifully situated, entirely out of the post road. Our track passed through a fine cultivated valley, the sides of which were covered with wood, the river Neutra winding its serpentine course along the bottom, a thousand thousand flowers on its banks, and the brightest sunbeams upon its waters. The ridge of mountains running to the north and east presented a most magnificent view. It was evening before we reached the château, where we learned that the Graf was absent; but the director, hearing of our intended visit, had made arrangements for our reception. Supper was soon announced, and right excellent was the meal. At seven o'clock the following morning the director, according to appointment, took coffee with us, previous to visiting the farms, breeding establishments, and fishery. Nothing could be better than the whole arrangement of the farm, and the stock of sheep and cattle were first-rate. The Graf being devoted to racing, took the greatest pains in the breed of his horses, and had instituted races on the English model.

It may not be uninteresting to give an extract from the Hunyadi Racing Calendar. It is the first race recorded in Hungary.

MAY 22nd, 1814.-849 Vienna klafters, or one English mile.

Lt. br. mare, Victoria, by Montedoro, out of Roxalana, three years old, carried 784 Pfund, fifteen hands and half an inch (ridden by Johan Petzucha). Chesnut mare, Capria, by Yoscanello, out of Capria, three years old, carried 723 Pfund, fourteen hands three inches and a half (ridden by Johan Hofchuth). Grey mare, Cocoa, by Porta, from Transylvania, out of Villam, from Transylvania, three years old, carried 724 lbs., fourteen hands three inches and a half (ridden by Johan Kudrij).

The two first ran the distance in two minutes and eleven seconds; Cocoa was beat by six lengths.

Since the period we write of, we find that Graf Hunyadi has increased his exertions in pursuit of this important object; for in 1816 he brought thirteen three-year-old mares, of his own breeding, to the post; and, by way of infusing into the peasantry a spirit of improvement in the breeding of horses, gives "peasants' plates," to be run for on the same principle as our "farmers' plates." The stables were a fine range, containing nearly fifty horses. The flooring being a wood pavement, and the litter removed during the day, the horses, Astleylike,† appear on the boards. After breakfast we drove towards Het

* 854 English pounds make 690 Pfund of Vienna.

This was written before the destruction of that truly popular place of entertainment, the loss of which, to the public-spirited proprietor, and the play-going world, will be felt deeply.

meny, a farm belonging to the Graf, at the distance of a few miles, where his breeding stud is kept. The road led through a noble grass country, where we saw some fine-woolled flocks of sheep. On crossing a ferry, we reached. the farm of Hetmeny. There we found the arrangements made with every attention to utility. Large pens for brood mares; airy and open stables, furnished with mangers, but without stalls, for feeding the young horses, which are afterwards driven out into the paddocks appropriated for them, according to their classes and ages; a long stable, with stalls, contained the horses which had run the previous year, and large loose boxes were devoted to the stallions. We next visited the training ground, which is admirably suited to the purpose; and, after a walk round the garden, and a lounge to the dove and poultry-house, and the kennels, which contained many greyhounds (for coursing is a favourite amusement of the Graf), we took leave of the director, delighted with our visit to Urmeny.

(To be continued.)

SCOTTISH SHOOTING QUARTERS.

THIS being the time when moors are taken, grouse-shooters will now be looking about them; and considering how important it is that their preparations be successfully made, a few remarks, that may contribute to that end, will, we dare say, be acceptable.

It is well known that great dissatisfaction prevails as to the sport that has been afforded by moors taken at high prices. Moors are advertised to be let "for grouse-shooting," and are described as being "well stocked with game," "affording shooting for so many guns,' "surrounded with preserves," or as having themselves been preserved for a season or two. Relying upon the expectations of sport thus held out, and conceiving that he has to do with a landed gentleman, who must know the capabilities of his own property, and who will not take a willing advantage, a stranger closes a bargain for a moor, at a price varying from £50 to £300;-nay, for some extensive districts, including a deer forest, £1,000 and upwards have been given. But the rent, heavy though it be, is only one part of the expense. There are to be added the pay of keepers and attendants, the prices of dogs and horses, travelling charges, and maintenance for this very healthy, yet most consumptive family. All these expenses are incurred for two or three weeks amusement, the nature of which is perfectly understood, and its existence quite ascertainable. If, therefore, the lessee finds that he has been allowed to make such preparations on a supposition of there being game, which turns out a mere chimera, and which it is difficult for him to believe the proprietor to have been ignorant of, it is no wonder that his complaints should be both loud and deep, and should amount, in some cases, almost to accusations of robbery and deception.

The disappointment that is experienced, however, is not always to be attributed to misrepresentation on the part of the landlord, but may often be ascribed to the inexperience of the sportsman, or to his want of due caution and inquiry. Two seasons ago, when at Inverary, we had the pleasure to meet, accidentally, at dinner, a military man, who was on his way home from shooting-quarters, for which, along with a friend, he had paid £300 for the season, but which he had left in disgust, after a stay of only two days. The party had taken the place, which, for obvious reasons, we forbear to specify, upon a general statement as to the amount of game, but without considering other circumstances, such as its convenience and accessibleness, essential to the enjoyment of it; and they did not observe its deficiency in these respects until they took possession. They had to travel post seventy miles, through a rude country, after reaching Inverness, from which place most necessaries had to be fetched. When they did reach their quarters, and came to arrange their plan of operations for the following morning, they found that the ground immediately about the house, though it might occasionally furnish a deer once or twice in the season, was not available for grouse-shooting. And before they could have a shot at grouse, which, of course, was the staple of the sport, they had to travel some ten miles on foot, then boat as many upon a loch, and then walk some five or six more, and ford a stream, which, if rain chanced to fall when they were over, could scarcely be repassed without danger of their lives. To complete the disagrémens, one of the servants fell ill of the smallpox, and they had to send 140 miles, to Inverness and back, for a surgeon. The party were completely routed, and our informant was glad to regain the haunts of men, minus his money and his sport, and with nothing but two days of unproductive labour for his pains. Now, in this case, provided the state of the game was fairly represented as to quantity, the proprietor could scarcely be blamed for not himself suggesting the objections and inconveniences to which his place might be subject, any more than one who sells a dray-horse to a person who chooses to purchase him for a race, can be blamed if he do not win. The convenience of a purchase, or its suitableness for his purpose, are what the buyer must look to -caveat emptor, &c.

We may next remark, that the grouse-shooter must not imagine that mere remoteness of district will answer his purpose, by insuring birds, and exemption from poaching. We know a party who, the season before last, took shootings in the heart of Ross-shire, at the price of £200. They took infinite pains to provide everything that could conduce to success: steady servants, the best of dogs, and plenty of good cheer, preceded them to their quarters. Little sleep sufficed them on the night of the 11th, and on the next eventful day they rose with the grey of the morning, breakfasted by candlelight, and proceeded to the hill to reap the full harvest of enjoyment, with a strength of anticipation which they only can understand who have experienced it. But, alas for human happiness! the result of the first day's exertions of two of them was but one solitary bird; of the second day, three birds; and of the first week, eleven brace only. They afterwards picked up rather more birds, by keeping near the public road, which led them to suppose that poachers had destroyed the